(Click here for full Article)PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Jan. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A Rhode Island-based entrepreneur who produces children's television programming has won Direct Capital's national "Small Biz, BIG Success" award competition and the$10,000 prize that goes with it, the company announced today.William Culbertson and his North Smithfield company, Whooplah LLC, won the national competition by producing this video that described his work. Culbertson has created a children's television program from scratch -- even sewing his puppets by hand and creating elaborate scenes from recycled materials. Whooplah plans to use the $10,000prize money to go into production on an upcoming series for PBS.

Direct Capital sponsored the competition as part of its 20th anniversary celebration. Companies competed for the award by producing videos that explain how they will use the prize money; how they make every interaction with their customers remarkable; their passion, scrappiness, and creative problem-solving skills.

"Culbertson's passion for his business and his scrappiness in finding creative solutions to put it all together really came through in his video submission. We are thrilled to be able to give Whooplah a jump start in 2014," said Stephen Lankler, senior vice president for the Portsmouth, NH-based company.

Whooplah was chosen by a panel of judges from the Direct Capital executive staff, based on the judging criteria found here. Over the last several months, small businesses across the country had the chance to enter to win the $10,000 to help fund the project of their choice.